Ground cover rose plant named &#39;NOA97400A&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety for Ground Cover Rose plant is provided which forms on a substantially continuous basis sprays of attractive bright amber and cream-orange blossoms with the reproductive organs commonly being visible at the center. The blossoms open on a reliable basis and retain their attractiveness upon aging. The new variety initially exhibits a dense and upright growth habit that changes to a spreading growth habit during the second year. The foliage is dark green and glossy and contrasts well with the blossom coloration. The surfaces of leaves commonly are somewhat curled and partially closed. The blossom petals commonly detach cleanly upon full maturity. The plant propagates well from cuttings and by budding. Excellent resistance to Blackspot, Powdery Mildew, and Rust are displayed, and the plant is particularly well suited for growing as an attractive ornamental ground cover in the landscape.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Ground Cover Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘NOA97400A’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Ground Cover rose plants are known and are being used to advantage in anincreasing number of landscape plans and home gardens. However, thereremains a need for additional varieties of Ground Cover roses with thedemand being the greatest for those having highly attractive blossoms incombination with good disease resistance.

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Ground Cover rose plant of the presentinvention was created at Gütersloh, Germany, by artificial pollinationwherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied inthe hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. Thefemale parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘Noatraum’ variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 7,282). The ‘Noatraum’ variety sometimes is identified asFLOWER CARPET PINK and is marketed in Europe under the HEIDETRAUMtrademark. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was an unnamed andunreleased seedling maintained by Noack Rosen at Gütersloh, Germany(non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the new varietycan be summarized as follows:‘Noatraum’×Unnamed Seedling.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which physically and biologically differ from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plantto the new variety.

It is found that the new variety of Ground Cover rose plant possessesthe following combination of characteristics:

(a) forms in sprays attractive long-lasting bright amber andcream-orange blossoms with the reproductive organs commonly beingvisible at the center,

(b) initially exhibits a dense and upright growth habit that changes toa spreading growth habit during the second year,

(c) forms attractive glossy dark green foliage that contrasts well withthe blossoms wherein the surfaces of the leaflets commonly are somewhatcurled and partially closed,

(d) exhibits excellent disease resistance with respect to Blackspot,Powdery Mildew, and Rust, and

(e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentationin the landscape.

The new variety meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can begrown to advantage as an attractive ornamental ground cover in parks,gardens, public areas, and residential landscapes.

The new variety of the present invention beginning in 2000 has beenasexually reproduced by the rooting of cuttings, and by budding. Suchasexual reproduction as performed at Gütersloh, Germany, hasdemonstrated that the characteristics of the new variety are firmlyfixed and stable and are strictly transmissible from one generation toanother. The new variety asexually reproduces in a true to type mannerfrom one generation to another.

The new variety of the present invention has been named ‘NOA97400A’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety while growing outdoors. Theillustrated rose plants were photographed during July, 2004, whilegrowing in a field at Gütersloh, Germany. Such plants had been buddedapproximately one and one-half years earlier.

FIG. 1 illustrates a close view of the attractive amber and cream-orangeblossoms of the new variety wherein the reproductive organs are visibleat the center.

FIG. 2 illustrates at the right the upper and under surfaces of typicalleaves, buds and glossy foliage, and at the left buds and flowers invarious stages of opening as well as additional foliage. Theconfiguration of the somewhat curled and partially closed leaflets isillustrated. Dimensions in centimeters are included at the center.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart) of London, England. Colorterminology in common terms sometimes is included as an aid to thereader. Such color terminology is to be accorded its customarydictionary significance. The description is based on the observation oftypical specimens of the new variety while growing outdoors during Julyat Gütersloh, Germany.

-   Class: Ground Cover.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—vigorous, young plants exhibit a dense and upright            growth habit, and with further maturity spread to form a            compact bush that serves well as ground cover with dense            foliage.        -   Height.—approximately 70 cm on average.        -   Width.—approximately 70 cm on average.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: medium green with a smooth surface. —            adult wood: darker green than the young stems and with a            smooth surface.        -   Thorns.—size: medium, approximately 5 mm in length on            average, and slightly curved downward on the upper surface,            and concave on the under surface. — position: irregular. —            color: initially light red-brown when immature and changing            to dark brown at maturity. — quantity: typical for a Ground            Cover rose plant.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—green in coloration.        -   Leaflets.—number: commonly 5, and sometimes 7. —            configuration: generally elliptical with a narrowly pointed            apex, and commonly curled upwards at the margin thereby            giving the leaves partially closed appearance. — quantity:            very abundant. — size: medium. — serration: slightly            serrate. — color: (young foliage): upper surface: medium            green. under surface: lighter green than the upper surface.            — color: (adult foliage): upper surface: dark green. under            surface: lighter green than the upper surface. — general            appearance: dense, dark green foliage that is glossy on the            upper surface and matte on the under surface with the curled            nature of the leaves being readily apparent. — texture:            leathery. — stipules: light green in coloration.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—in clusters of flowers as a large spray.        -   Peduncle.—soft green in coloration.        -   Sepals.—shape: commonly extend well beyond the petals of the            bud, pointed, and approximately 2 cm in length on average.        -   Buds.—color when opening: Yellow-Orange Group 17A to 17D on            the upper surface and Yellow-Orange Group 16C and 16D on the            under surface.        -   Flower.—form: somewhat flattened. — appearance: smooth on            both petal surfaces. — diameter: approximately 5 cm on            average. — color (when opening begins): upper surface:            predominantly Yellow-Orange Group 17A. — color (when            blooming): upper surface: Yellow-Orange Group 17A. The            bright yellow coloration of pollen and the reproductive            organs commonly is visible at the center. under surface:            predominantly Yellow-Orange Group 16C and 16D. — color (at            the end of opening): upper surface: bright amber and            cream-orange coloration that is predominantly Yellow-Orange            Group 17A. — fragrance: none. — lasting quality: very good.            — petal form: broad, fan-shaped, curved with a somewhat            indented central area and margin areas that are slightly            curved towards the center. — petal number: commonly            approximately 15 on average. — petal arrangement: generally            arranged in a regular pattern with overlapping edges. —            petal drop: good with the petals detaching cleanly upon            fully maturity. — stamens: regularly arranged around the            styles. — filaments: yellow in coloration. — pollen: yellow            in coloration. — stigmas: yellow in coloration. — styles:            thin and regularly arranged at the center. — hips: generally            pear-shaped, approximately 2 cm in length, and initially            green in coloration changing to red-orange with maturity.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—strong, compact, and vigorous.        -   Blooming.—substantially continuous throughout the season in            large sprays.        -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—slight.        -   Winter hardiness.—good.        -   Resistance to diseases.—excellent with respect to Blackspot,            Powdery Mildew, and Rust.

1. A new and distinct Ground Cover Rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) forms in sprays attractivelong-lasting bright amber and cream-orange blossoms with thereproductive organs commonly being visible at the center, (b) initiallyexhibits a dense and upright growth habit that changes to a spreadinggrowth habit during the second year, (c) forms attractive glossy darkgreen foliage that contrasts well with the blossoms wherein the surfacesof the leaflets commonly are somewhat curled and partially closed, (d)exhibits excellent disease resistance with respect to Blackspot, PowderyMildew, and Rust, and (e) is particularly well suited for growing asattractive ornamentation in the landscape; substantially as illustratedand described.